But the 18-year-old is not expected to start in tomorrow’s FA Cup first round game at Chesterfield.

Pools are looking to use the competition to put their sorry League One form behind them and get back on the winning trail.

Micky Barron will stay in charge for the foreseeable future, having last month taken over as caretaker from Neale Cooper.

Club owners IOR may well allow him to stay at the helm as long as results show even a slight improvement - even though several names, the latest being Phil Brown - have been linked with the Victoria Park hot seat.

Barron has planned for the cup trip without Andy Monkhouse, as the winger is feeling the effects of an ankle injury, and is unlikely to play until the middle of the month.

Luke James is also missing for some time having this week had a double hernia operation.

Pools are awaiting a final decision from Sunderland over whether on loan striker Ryan Noble is eligible to play. Sunderland have only the FA Cup left among cup competitions having been dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Boro in midweek.

Meanwhile ex-Pools striker Adam Boyd is having a trial at Lincoln City.